ALL ABOUT NEW MOBILES

NEC FOMA 906i phone

2008-05-27T09:53:00.000-07:00

A lot of people have been hearing of NTT DoCoMo’s 906i series. Well, here are some pics of the devices released straight from NEC’s website. These are the NEC clamshell phones that is part of NTT Docomo’s 906i series. All of them take on the clamshell scheme factor and they look pretty sweet, large screen and all.

Here are some details on the NEC handsets:

N906i
* 3 inch WVGA display
* 5.2 mega pixel CMOS camera
* 14 mm thick

N906iL
* 7.2Mbps HSDPA
* Wi-Fi

N906iμ
* 3.2 mega pixel camera

Samsung SPH-W4450 Phone

2008-05-27T09:50:00.000-07:00

Samsung’s latest phone SPH-W4450 discovered in the wild. This titanium pink colored slider phone is awesome. Here are a few features of the cellphone:

MP3 Player
USB 2.0 support
Bluetooth
Supported formats: MP3/VOD/MOD
Digital Camera 2.0 MP
Memory 1GB
TFT LCD 240×320 resolution

Somehow, we got these amazing images of the cell phone. Enjoy the pics:

LG rolls out KF-510 slider with 3MP and touch controls

2008-05-24T07:10:00.000-07:00

LG will debut its new Phone LG-KF510 at the GSMA Mobile World Congress 2008 in Barcelona. LG-KF510 is a stylish, fashionable phone catering to users’ demand for slimmer phones with unique design accents. At just 10.9 mm thick, the LG-KF510 is the extremely slim slider phone. It combines a slim style with strength created by its metal frame and tempered glass. At the center of its design are metal gradation paint schemes available in Stardust Dark Gray or Sunset Red. Users will especially appreciate the quality of the LG-KF510’s multi-function camera with 3.0 mega pixel and MP3 player.

The LG-KF510 will be available worldwide, with an initial launch in March 2008 starting from major global markets.

Samsung SGH-G400, Soul Clamshell

2008-05-24T07:04:00.000-07:00

Samsung has launched the clamshell version of the Samsung Soul called the G400. This handset was was first made known to the public last February, and was surmised to be among the phones Samsung will showcase during the Mobile World Congress. Samsung G400's selling point is its dual touch screen feature. By dual touch screen, it means the G400 has one 2.2-inch TFT LCD display, and one 2.2-inch external touch screen display. The external screen is used to access the phone's multimedia capabilities without the need to use the main internal display. Other features include a 5-megapixel camera, 7.2 Mbps HSDPA capability, and multi-media player with FM radio. Samsung G400 is equipped with three different graphic user interfaces or GUIs from which the users can choose. The clamshell phone will be available starting June 2008 to select European countries.

Samsung G400 (SGH-G400) at a glance
Available:	Q2 2008
Network:	GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 + UMTS 2100
Data:	GPRS + EDGE + UMTS (3G) + HSDPA
Screen:	240 x 320 pixels, 262k colors (main) 240 x 320 pixels, 262k colors (sub)
Camera:	5 megapixels (main)
Size:	Medium clamshell 103 x 52 x 15mm
Bluetooth:	Yes
Memory card:	microSD
Infra-red:	No
Polyphonic:	Yes
Java:	Yes
GPS:	No
Battery life:	Not specified

HTC Touch Review - Introduction / Design

2008-05-24T06:56:00.000-07:00

As its name makes clear, the focus with the HTC Touch is on the touch screen. The compact, professional looking Windows Mobile smartphone is offered by Sprint and from the simple design of the phone to the unique Touch Cube interface, many features highlight the TouchFLO technology in the screen.
simple hardware design generally gives users all they need, although the only keypad available is on the touch screen and it is small. Fortunately, there is a QWERTY keypad layout available which could keep some users from reaching for the stylus that comes with the phone. Overall, the screen is very responsive to finger taps and swipes, although occasionally the need to keep tapping repeatedly to press a button on the screen can be frustrating.

While the highlight of this phone is the touch screen, some other features - notably the sound quality - are just okay. But for users looking for a practical, professional smart phone, the Touch has a lot to offer.

It does fall short when compared with Apple's iPhone, on which the interface is much more intuitive, aesthetically attractive and simple to use. The iPhone's larger screen makes better use of the touch screen feature, giving users the opportunity to accomplish more through a touch of the finger - no stylus needed.

The Touch offers great potential for connectivity, with access to Sprint's high-speed EV-DO network, the ability to sync the phone with a PC and to use the phone as a modem for a PC, if the user is signed up for Sprint's Power Vision Modem Plan.

Design

Since the TouchFLO technology takes care of most of the operations on the Touch, HTC was able to keep the phone itself very simple. There are only three buttons on the front face of the phone: a green-lit talk key, a red-lit end key, and a large silver navigation and "enter" key between them. The multi-directional navigation part of this key allows users to move right, left, up and down, and then make a selection by pressing the "enter" key at the center. This key is convenient, and allows users to choose between touching the screen and using the key to navigate through some of the phone's functions. In terms of design, it makes the Touch a little chunkier than the sleeker iPhone navigation key, which is one simple button in the same location near the bottom of the phone.

The smooth black exterior of the phone seems well-made and does not pick up marks or scratches very easily. The surface is hard yet slightly rubbery to the touch, making it easy to grip. The touch screen avoids smudging relatively well, an important feat since users' fingers will come in contact with it a lot - unless they prefer to rely exclusively on the stylus.

A small power button sits on the top left side of the phone, and the small, square earpiece - combined with the notification LEDs - is centered at the top of the phone's face. These LEDs could be helpful, if users can remember the meanings associated with all the different lights. The left LED shows green and amber lights for standby, message, network and battery charging status. The right LED shows an amber light to indicate GPS status, and a flashing blue light when the Bluetooth system is powered up and ready to transmit a radio signal.

The stylus slides into a slot at the upper right corner of the phone, and in general it can be removed easily when the user pushes up on the small ledge on the stylus' head. Below the stylus on the right side of the phone is the storage card slot cover. Unfortunately, plugging in the tiny microSD card can be inconvenient because it requires the back to be removed and a flexible tab on the right side of the phone to be pulled out.

On the bright side, the back of the phone slides up easily in one motion to remove the battery or plug in the microSD card. Immediately below this long tab is the photo button.

There is a tiny reset button at the bottom of the phone, toward the right side, which can be used to soft reset the phone. Since the button is so small, the stylus must be used to do this. The micro-USB port sits in the middle of the bottom of the phone, between a reset button and the microphone, and it does not have a tab. This lack of a tab on the micro-USB port makes charging the device and connecting it to a PC very simple, especially for people who are frustrated by constantly having to fiddle with small tabs every time they charge their phones. Hopefully the uncovered port will not pick up dirt or get damaged.

To the left, at the bottom of the phone, is a small microphone. There is also a slot for a lanyard, and further up the left side of the phone is a volume slider that users can push up or down to adjust volume. The speaker, which is a small circle, is on the back of the phone. The 2.0-megapixel camera is also on the back of the phone, and the self-portrait mirror is just above the camera lens. This unique feature looks like a small silver button and while it isn't big enough to enough to check one's appearance, it does allow users to make sure they are positioned correctly to show up in a photo.

The Touch feels quite small in the hand and is more compact than Apple's iPhone, although the Touch is a little thicker. The Touch is 2.4-inches wide, 4-inches long and just 0.6-inches thick. By contrast, the iPhone is 2.4 inches wide, 4.5-inches tall and only 0.46-inches thick. The Touch is also a light phone, weighing in at 4 ounces.

The Touch is attractive on its own but if design is a top concern, the iPhone is still sleeker and more beautifully designed than the Touch.

Out of the box, the HTC Touch comes with the necessities and also some useful accessories. This includes a headset that plugs into the mini-USB port, a USB sync cable, a 2.5 mm headset adapter, a two mini-USB adapter, a microSD card, a stylus, a pouch, an LCD screen protector and a software installation CD for Microsoft ActiveSync 4.5, Windows Mobile Device Center, a user guide and 60-day trial for Microsoft Office Outlook.

Camera

This puts the Touch on par with Apple's iPhone, which also has a 2.0-megapixel camera, and the two phones were on par with each other in photo quality. Video quality for the Touch was also okay and similar to the iPhone's, although it was a bit grainy indoors. The one-touch camera button is located on the lower right side of the phone, but users can also press the large silver navigation button on the front of the phone to take photos.

When a user brings up the camera by pressing one of these buttons, the screen displays several options to control the quality of photos. These capture modes include video and six different photo modes. The photo modes range from standard still photos to "burst," which takes a series of up to 30 photos as long as the camera button or front "enter" button is pressed down.

The Touch provides a lot of options and information when the camera is open. This ranges from the number of photos or amount of video that the Touch can record with available memory, to a "quick settings" panel that allows users to control brightness, white balance and resolution, among other things.

It took some time to figure out how to go from the photo screen to saved photos - tap on an arrow on the lower left hand side of the screen - and how to get back from saved photos - tap twice on the screen to bring up a menu, and select the backward arrow. When the photo screen is open for a while and the user has not made any selections, the options displayed on the initial screen disappear. Users can bring them back up with the tap of a finger on the screen.

Basic Features

The Touch runs Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional, so users have access to Excel Mobile, PowerPoint Mobile and Word Mobile. The Touch is also sold with Internet Explorer already installed.

The phone turns on to a home screen, also referred to as the "Today Screen." This includes a very large clock, weather information that users can customize to their city and new messages and missed calls. There is also a customizable launcher where users can add applications of their choice.

Whether users prefer the "Today Screen" or the iPhone's simpler home screen with more icons linking to applications, weather and other items may depend upon the person. It did seem easier to reach these things on the iPhone, rather than finding them on the Windows Start menu or interface on the Touch.

The three-dimensional Touch Cube interface is nonetheless one of the highlights of the Touch. This feature is accessed by swiping a finger up from the bottom of the screen, and then swiping a finger to the right or left to spin the cube and pan through applications, media and contacts. The contacts side of the cube displays the user's top nine contacts with their photos. Unfortunately, the Touch Cube interface is only available when the phone's display is in portrait view. Therefore, users need to make sure the display is not set to landscape view, to enable this feature to work.

Basic features on the Touch include a calculator, calendar and camera album. The one-touch talk button near the bottom of the phone brings up a keypad for users to make a call, and the end button closes this. The Touch also has access to GPS through Sprint Navigation.

The Touch features a Li-Ion battery, and the phone generally has up to four hours of talk time. The media playback time is up to eight hours for video and 12 hours for audio.

Screen

The Touch features a colorful, sharp screen with 65K colors and resolution of 240 x 320 px. The LCD measures 2.8-inches diagonally, and what really sets this screen apart is the TouchFLO technology that allows users to navigate by tapping and swiping their fingers across the screen.
As mentioned earlier, users can access the Touch's special interface, Touch Cube, by using this touch screen technology. After using the touch screen for a short time, it becomes intuitive and is easy to use.

Relative to other LCDs, the Touch's 65K-color screen is mediocre, with many video-focused devices delivering 262K- to 16.7 million-colors. Built from TFT (Thin Film Transistor) LCD technology, the Touch offers brighter imagery and faster response rates over older STN (Super Twisted Nematic) screens.

While the Touch's screen is better than most handhelds on the market, it fails to measure up to the iPhone's 3.5-inch 320 x 480 px display. Apple doesn't disclose the iPhone's screen colors.

Audio

Audio quality on the Touch is limited, but then music does not seem to be the focus of this smartphone. The volume produced by the small speaker on the back of the phone is low, and the phone tends to have a tinny, one-dimensional sound.

There are plenty of options to access media with the Touch from Sprint. Users have access to the Sprint Music Store and can play songs and other audio with the Windows Media Player. Through the Sprint Music Store, users have access to more than 1.8 million songs which they can download wirelessly direct to the phone. The Touch can also stream more than a dozen radio stations, among them Sprint Radio and Sirius.

Messaging

The Touch allows users to access email from POP3, IMAP4, SMTP and Microsoft Exchange and Outlook. Users of the Touch can use Direct Push to receive email the instant it arrives in their inboxes on the Exchange Server.

The Touch also comes with instant messaging through AIM, Yahoo! and Windows Live. Instant messaging can be accessed from the home screen, by touching the letter icon on the left side of the screen.

One of the main difficulties with the Touch is the size of keypads. Users could be forced to navigate with the stylus if they want to use the tiny touch screen buttons. The problem becomes more apparent once users move past the main Touch Cube interface. Fortunately, the Touch allows users to choose a QWERTY keypad which does make typing easier. Like the iPhone, the virtual keyboard offers easier text entry. Designed to be used with the fingers, the stylus-designed entry method is rather cumbersome to use with fingers.

Entertainment
Basic features preinstalled on the Touch include a calculator, calendar and camera album. The one-touch talk button near the bottom of the phone brings up a keypad for users to make a call, and the end button closes this. As mentioned earlier, the Touch has access to Sprint Music Store and Sprint TV to listen to music and watch videos with Windows Media Player.

Through Sprint Music Store, customers wirelessly download songs to the Touch. Users can choose from hundreds of thousands of full-length songs from virtually every genre. Tracks can be simultaneously downloaded to both the Touch and a personal computer. Though Sprint TV, consumers can view more than 50 channels of live and on-demand including ABC News Now, Bloomberg, Fox News Channel, Discovery and the Learning Channel.

This wealth of media is good, since the Touch is competing with Apple's iPhone which allows users to buy songs and television shows through Apple's popular iTunes Web site.

Users can also customize on-demand information such as sports, weather and news information on the Touch, so that they have up-to-the-minute knowledge of what is going on. Sprint streams more than a dozen radio stations on the Touch and as mentioned above, that includes Sprint Radio and Sirius.

The Touch also has access to GPS through Sprint Navigation, helping travelers explore local restaurants and shops, or look for the lowest gas prices. Sprint Navigation offers voice-guided and on-screen turn-by-turn driving directions that speaks street names for each turn. In addition to 3-D moving maps similar to an in-car navigation system or personal navigation device. To avoid traffic, users can get real-time intelligent traffic alerts and one-click rerouting, while local search provides more than 10 million points of interest.

Internet

The Touch supports Sprint's EV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized) high-speed broadband network for high-speed data connectivity of around 300 to 500 kbps, which makes it easy for users to connect to the Sprint Music Store, Sprint TV and other media. The Touch also comes with Internet Explorer so users can browse the Internet.

The EV-DO network also provides users with quick access to email accounts including POP3, IMAP4, SMTP and Microsoft Exchange and Outlook, and allows them to send and receive instant messages through AIM, Yahoo! and Windows Live.

Storage

The Touch has only 128 MB of built in memory, so it's nice that it comes with a 512 MB microSD card. The Touch supports cards up to 4 GB, which can be purchased separately. Putting in the microSD card and taking it out is inconvenient, since the back of the phone must be removed to pry loose the tab that covers the card slot.

Samsung I400 Symbian Smartphone Showcased

2008-05-24T06:43:00.000-07:00

Samsung today showcased the SGH-I400, its latest Symbian OS smartphone at the S60 summit in Madrid, Spain.
A smartphone in a slim and stylish design, the I400 is based on Symbian OS and S60 which offer extensive language supports, enhanced download applications and multitasking features. With Symbian S60, the I400 allows users to install programs on their mobile phones just like PCs. The slider supports full web browsing and Bluetooth connectivity for business users. To enhance its multimedia features, the I400 also includes a 2.0-megapixel camera, music key and stereo dual speaker. Moreover, the I400 has a 2.3-inch wide display for the convenient use of business and multimedia functions.

The I400 will be launched in Russia from July 2007 and to be expanded in other European countries shortly.

Samsung SGH-I400 Specification

- Standard: GPRS/EDGE Tri-Band (900/1800/1900)
- Camera: 2.0-Megapixel Camera
- Display: 2.3-inch QVGA TFT (262K Colors)
- Features: Bluetooth 2.0 (A2DP), USB 2.0
- Full Web Browsing / Web 2.0
- Music Key / Dual Speaker
- microSD (4 GB)
- Size: 101 x 50 x 15.8 mm
- Weight: 92 g

Samsung SPH-W2400 AMOLED HSPDA Cell Phone

2008-04-20T21:19:00.000-07:00

Samsung has released one of its first cellphones using AMOLED technology, a special edition of the SPH-W2400. AMOLED is an improvement on the still-infrequent OLED display, providing better contrast and response, as well as wider viewing angles and a longer battery life. The phone is otherwise unchanged: its primary highlight is a twisting display, which makes it easier to watch DMB TV or local video clips, while still keeping the form factor slim.

It has Bluetooth and a 2 megapixel camera, and supports a "3.5G" level of HSDPA for faster downloads and streaming. The new phone should already be carried by LG Telecom for 500,000 won ($541).

LG LB3300 Music Phone

2008-04-20T21:18:00.000-07:00

LG Electronics has announced a new music phone called “Rhapsody in Music Phone” and marked as LG-LB3300. Mark Levinson, the founder of MLAS honoured the event by his presence.

The LG-LB3300 features a touch wheel key, LED lighting, a 1GB built-in memory for storing 256 songs. It also gives users an option to store more with 4GB expandable external memory option. Users can play their favorite songs in 8 equalizer settings including natural, pop, classic, jazz, and etc.

LG-LB3300 supports Bluetooth headphone, so you can roam hands free. As announced, the latest cell phone model will be available in two color options black and white. Later in Feb 2008, LG plans to roll put its pink model too.

LG LB3300 Specifications:
* Networks: CDMA
* Dimensions: 103x48x14.7 mm
* Display: 2”, TFT, 262K colors
* Camera: 2-megapixel
* MP3-player
* Memory: 1 GB onboard, microSD cards (up to 4 GB)
* Connectivity: Bluetooth v 2.0/2.0+EDR, USB 2.0

LG KH-1800 Orange

2008-04-20T21:17:00.000-07:00

LG has launched their 13.3mm thick 3G slider in Korea, the LG-KH1800 also known as "Orange color phone". The phone comes with multitasking button where you can use SMS service, telephone directory, and alarm setting even while you are calling. Beside that, the phone also boasts the 3G WCDMA automatic roaming service and all the common features such as MP3 playback, text viewer camera and electronic dictionary function. The LG-KH1800 comes with an expected of 352,000 KRW ($375) via KTF telecom.

LG KH-1800 Specifications:
* 3G, WCDMA
* 1.3 Megapixel Digital Camera
* Dictionary
* MP3 Player
* $375

Asus P550 GPS Phone

2008-04-20T21:16:00.000-07:00

ASUS has announced the P550 communicator. This is a candy bar model without a keyboard and a big 3.5-inch display. It is powered by Windows Mobile 6 Professional. According to the manufacturer, ASUS P550 is good for mobile professionals, users who need to work in move. They can be always connected and the big display enables convenient document handling.

The specifications of ASUS P550:

* Standards: GSM/GPRS 900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS 2100 MHz
* OS: Windows Mobile 6 Professional
* Display: 3.5” touchscreen (240x320 pixels, 65K colros)
* CPU: Marvel PXA270M, 520 MHz
* Memory: 256 MB ROM and 64 MB RAM
* MicroSD-slot (SDHC)
* Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g), USB 1.1, Bluetooth 2.0
* Built-in GPS-receiver (SiRF Star III), (TMC-module, optional)
* 2-mehgapixel camera
* Battery: Li-Ion 1530 mAh
* Standby time: up to 350 hours
* Talk time: up to 5 hours
* Dimensions: 121x70x16.5 mm
* Weight: 188 g
* Colors: silver

LG rolls out KF-510 slider with 3MP and touch controls

2008-04-20T21:14:00.000-07:00

Nokia 7900 Crystal Prism

2008-04-20T21:12:00.000-07:00

Nokia has unveiled the latest addition to the Prism Collection, the Nokia 7900. True to its line, the 7900 incorporates the geometric patterns in design, signature to the Nokia Prism Collection line. The handset was made in collaboration with Frédérique Daubal, a French designer. It features diamond-cut patterns with a crystal center key. It also boasts an OLED display, various wallpapers and accessories made specifically for it, a unique aluminum back cover, 1GB internal memory, 3G connectivity, 2-megapixel camera and a choice among the 49 colors available for the keymat. The Nokia 7900 Crystal Prism has a price tag of US$544

Sony Ericsson W61S with 5-Megapixel Camera

2008-04-20T21:11:00.000-07:00

Sony Ericsson introduced W61S the new 5.1-megapixel camera phone from the Cyber-shot series with 3x optical zoom and smile shutter technology. This slider phone features “Exmor” CMOS matrix, the same sensor technology (analog-digital converter) from Sony’s Alpha DSLR.

The W61S can work in CDMA 1 X WIN networks supporting EV-DO Rev.A technology, and supports Bluetooth, so the user can feel free without wires. GPS-functionality enhances photo capabilities of the phone: when you take a picture, the phone records the info from the GPS-receiver about the place, and then you can see it on a PC map.

In addition to photo and GPS the new Cyber-shot phone can boast of a big widescreen 2.8” TFT VGA display, which can be used as a pocket TV display. If the this display isn’t big enough for you to share the content, the developers added a video out.

Sony Ericsson W61S Specifications:
* Networks: CDMA1X WIN
* Dimensions: 50x114x22 mm
* Weight: 149 g
* Display: 2.8” widescreen, 480x800 pixels, 262K colors
* microSD storage cards
* Camera: 5.11-megapixel, CMOS
* Payment, music and navigation services

Sony Ericsson W760

2008-04-20T21:08:00.000-07:00

Sony Ericsson has announced a new Walkman phone with tri-band HSDPA, the W760, giving you the broadband speed downloads of the latest music and content wherever in the world.

The phone has a built-in GPS with Wayfinder Navigator to help you find the way out when you are lost, giving a search of over 20 million points of interest around the globe. There’s a GPS-supported fitness application called Tracker which can tell you how fast, how long and how far you ran.

With the built-in stereo speakers, you can share your favorite tunes with your friends and the best part, it is preloaded with the latest hit games, including the Need for Speed ProStreet. The phone also comes with the skip control where you can shuffle and skip through tracks or shake it to adjust volume. Other features include a 2.2-inch display, 3.2-megapixel camera, 40MB shared memory with M2 memory slot, FM radio etc.

The Sony Ericsson W760 is a UMTS/HSDPA 850/19002100 and GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 phone. It will be available in selected markets from Q2 2008.

Motorola Rokr E8 with a dynamic keypad

2008-04-20T21:04:00.000-07:00

Motorola has unveiled their ROKR E8 a music phone with very snazzy dynamic keypad that changes depending on which feature you are using. It uses the ModeShift technology from Motorola, allows user to shift from a music player to phone with just a touch of a button. When the phone is switched off, it will have a smooth and glossy surface with no visible keys. That’s cool, with one press on the virtual music key, the phone keypad disappears and the music keys (play, pause, fast forward and rewind) appear in its place. The vibrating haptics technology has been used also, the device will provides the tactile feedback consumers expect from a traditional keypad, providing confirmation they have pressed a virtual key. The ROKR E8 has 2GB of internal memory which can store up to 1,500 songs and if that’s not enough, you can expand another 4GB with an optional micro SD card. The Motorola ROKR E8 is expected to be available in Q1 2008.

Motorola ROKR E8 Features:
• Dimensions: 115 x 53 x 10.6mm
• Quad Band; GPRS/EDGE class 12
• Weight: 100 grams
• Battery: 970mAh
• Display: 2.0” QVGA 240×320 262K TFT
• ModeShift technology transforms the device from phone to music player to imaging device with thetouch of a button
• FastScroll navigation wheel allows for scrolling through songs, contact and image library with theslide of a thumb
• haptics technology provides tactile response when a virtual key is pressed
• 2GB internal memory;
• external memory support up to 4GB capacity
• Microsoft music ecosystem support
• 3.5 mm stereo headset jack, stereo Bluetooth wireless technology (A2DP)
• 2.0megapixel camera with 8x zoom, multi-shot feature, video capture and playback
• Airplane mode to play uninterrupted music in the air
• MIDI, MP3, AAC, AAC+, Enhanced AAC+, WMA, WAV, AMR-NB, Real Audio (RA) v10
Crystal Talk technology
• Full HTML browser
• Connectivity: Stereo Bluetooth Class 2, USB 2.0 Hi-speed, GPRS Class 12, EDGE Class 12

E-Ten Glofiish X650 Smart Phone

2008-04-20T21:03:00.000-07:00

E-Ten has announced yet another version of its Glofiish smartphone, the X650. Based on the existing X600, the phone returns VGA resolution to a 2.8-inch touchscreen, but there no longer appears to be any sort of cellular broadband. Connection types do, however, continue to include GSM, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, as well as a native GPS system. Other hardware in the 650 includes a 500MHz Samsung processor, 256MB of flash storage, and a 2 megapixel camera.

The phone additionally features Windows Mobile with Mobile Office, plus an FM tuner. In some regions an FM transmitter will also be built-in, but North America is likely to be excluded, as the FCC restricts the power of portable transmitters in order to prevent interference. The 650 should launch "worldwide" in black and purple colors, going to market within two to three weeks.

Samsung SOUL Dynamic Touch Phone

2008-04-20T21:00:00.000-07:00

Samsung has released a new slider in Europe called Soul, its new flagship slider phone. Serving as the final bow for the Ultra Edition, it blends in a split-screen, context-sensitive touch control system similar to that of the LG Venus: rather than rely on fixed buttons or an entire front touch surface, the Soul includes a small touchscreen area whose buttons change depending on the immediate context for the screen above. When playing music, track controls replace normal commands, Samsung says in an example. The Soul is also the first Samsung handset to sport a themed UI where the entire look and sound can be replaced at once.

The handset is both very camera- and data-focused. A 5-megapixel camera is accompanied by a high-power LED flash as well as by face detection and image stabilization - all features normally reserved for some of the better dedicated cameras, the company says. Transfers are quick with 3G Internet access over HSDPA up to 7.2Mbps downstream; the phone supports North America with quad-band calling over GSM, though whether it also supports 3G in the Western region is unknown. The phone makes heavy use of Google features and supports built-in Gmail and search functions, including a dedicated button at the top level of the interface.

The 12.8mm (0.5in) thick phone is said to be music-savvy with AAC, FM radio, MP3, and WMA support, including protected WMA music stores. Bang & Olufsen's ICEpower audio enhancement technology is also onboard the Soul, which should be available first in Europe by April but is likely to see service in the US through AT&T if left in its current form.

Soul Specifications:
* Connectivity: quad band GSM/HSDPA 7.2 Mbps
* Display: 2.2" 16M color QVGA TFT
* Camera: 5 mpxwith autofocus, 4x digital zoom, face recognition, image stabilizer and WDR optimizer, power LED
* FM Radio with RDS
* Google mail
* 15 hours of music playback
* Bluetooth 2.0/USB 2.0
* ICE Power digital power amp by B&O
* microSD memory card slot
* Dimensions: 105.9x49.5x12.9 mm

Nokia N96 Media Phone

2008-04-20T20:58:00.000-07:00

Nokia finally officially announces the next flagship model of the N-series, the Nokia N96. The handset is optimized for video and TV viewing. In fact, in some territories, the integrated DVB-H receiver could be used to watch live TV broadcast and it even sports a kickstand at the back for hands-free viewing. The Nokia N96 has a 2.8-inch screen and 16GB of internal memory, which is expandable with the addition of microSD cards. The N96 supports various and common video formats such a MP4, Flash, and WMV. It features a 5-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and can capture DVD-quality video at 30 fps. It also has WLAN and HSDPA support as well as integrated A-GPS which lets you geo-tag your images. The Nokia N96 will be released on Q3 2008 with a MSRP of US$800 (€550) sans taxes.

Nokia N96 Specifications:
* Standards: GSM/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz and WCDMA/HSDPA 900/2100 MHz
* Platform: S60 3rd Edition FP 2
* Display: 2.8” QVGA, 16M colors
* 16 GB of onboard memory
* microSD-slot
* Media player (MPEG-4/SP and MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, RealVideo, Windows Media (WMV9), Flash Lite 3.0, MP3, AAC, eAAC, eAAC+, WMA)
* 5-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss lens, video capture at VGA resolution, 30 fps (double LED flash active at video shooting too)
* Wi-Fi (802.11b/g), Bluetooth 2.0 EDR (A2DP stereo profile)
* Integrated GPS-receiver with A-GPS
* DVB-H Class C
* microUSB-port
* TV-out
* FM-radio with RDS
* Battery: 950 mAh
* Talk time: up to 150 minutes (3G) or up to 220 minutes (GSM)
* Standby time: up to 200 hours (3G) or up to 220 hours (GSM)
* Playback time: up to 5 hours (video), 14 hours (audio) and 4 hours (TV)
* Dimensions: 103x55x18 mm
* Weight: 125 g

Mobile Broadband launched by O2

2008-04-20T09:57:00.000-07:00

The guys at O2 have launched O2 Mobile broadband which they say has been designed for easy, fast and reliable internet connection while on the move. Using a plug-n-play USB modem O2 states that their service will offer “value for money pricing, fast speeds, as well as UK-based after sales service.”

So if you are an existing O2 customer it will cost £20.00 per month, and access will give 3GB of included UK data and unlimited access to The Cloud’s over 7,500 free WiFi hotspots, although with an excessive use policy in place.

This tariff will depend of opting for the £20.00 – 18 month price plan which will include a free of charge USB modem, or they can option for £20.00 per month for rolling one month packages but will need to purchase the USB modem at a cost of £119.99

One thing, it appears that if the user stops being an O2 mobile or landline broadband customer during their contract it will cost £30.00 per month. Excess data will be charges at an MB cost of 20p per MB and giving broadband speeds up to 1.8 megabits per second as of now and 3.6 megabit becoming available as of June.

N-Gage Launches Title: N-Gage Launches

2008-04-20T09:55:00.001-07:00

There's a lot of buzz about the global launch of Nokia's mobile game service, N-Gage, wherein Nseries users can buy and play made-for-mobile games straight from their mobile phones. Sure, it's a cool idea backed with so much hype since it's from Nokia.

M:Metrics senior analyst Mark Donovan pointed out that Nokia has a lot of catching up to do in the mobile gaming market.

"Nokia is currently underperforming in the games market today primarily due to the fact that the US market is flooded with low-end, free Nokia phones that came with carrier contracts. Today, N-Series devices are still quite expensive and are not widely distributed in carrier channels, resulting in low market adoption. However, among those toting high-end Nokia devices on the Symbian operating system, 30.8 percent played a mobile game, indicating that mobile gaming is a popular activity on these phones."

Based on the data gathered by M:Metrics as of February 2008, more than 48.4 million people played a mobile game. For Nokia owners, February, 20.1 percent (5.9 million people) played a mobile game, against a market average of 21.4 percent.

Are Handset Makers Sexist?

2008-04-20T09:53:00.000-07:00

A new research from Gartner advocates the need to design mobile phones that will answer the needs and wants of the women and children segment.

Though men comprise only 32% of the world's population, most mobile phones are designed for this gender. Not to mention that most handset designers are also men. Gartner's research VP, Monica Basso, pointed out:

"Mobile products will have to address gender diversity and demographics, evolving and differentiating into a range of consumer products. This trend, together with the consumerisation of IT and progressive evolution of the worker population towards younger individuals and women will force user organizations to rethink their working structures, environments and processes."

Very true. As mobile technology evolves, handset makers should learn to ride the wave of the future. If such is the case, it's possible there might be a profitable niche among the homosexual segment as well.

Solar Chargers for Developing Countries Title: Solar Chargers for Developing Countries

2008-04-20T09:52:00.000-07:00

Charging cellphone is no big deal if you're in a place with steady supply of electricity. But there are places on this planet where it is of serious concern given the scarcity of electricity.

You might remember Karaj, a small village in India where its residents have to walk about 20 kilometers just to charge their mobile phones.

The good news is that there are a number of solar chargers developed specifically to answer this concern. One such product comes from G24 Innovations and its lightweight G24i Solar Charger Series, family of solar chargers that work using the power of light (indoors or outdoors) and is initially available in 1/2 watt and 1 watt configurations.

Its product called G5 is created for developing markets and claims to extend talk time up to 15 minutes after an hour of charging. The G10, on the other hand, can double talk time after one hour of charging. Both can also charge other gadgets like MP3 players and digital cameras.

Though I haven't personally tried these products, it simply shows there are now alternatives to electricity that might further extend the use of mobile technology in the far-flung areas.

LimeLife Releases Law & Order: Celebrity Betrayal

2008-04-20T09:49:00.000-07:00

LimeLife, Inc. and NBC Universal today announced the launch of “Law & Order: Celebrity Betrayal,” the mobile game extension for NBC’s long-running crime drama, Law & Order, now in its 18th season. Executive Producer Dick Wolf and his team were instrumental in developing the game with LimeLife to reflect the signature storytelling and energy of Law & Order.

“One of the contributors to the shows longevity has been its commitment to evolve with the times and stay fresh which includes allowing our audience to experience ‘Law & Order’ in different ways and on different screens,” said Dick Wolf, creator and executive producer of “Law & Order.” “‘Law & Order: Celebrity Betrayal’ is the closest fans of the show can come to experiencing a day in the life of their favorite ‘Law & Order’ characters.”

Players work to solve New York City’s latest celebrity crime by investigating the crime scene, interrogating witnesses and bringing their key suspect to trial. The object of the game is to build as strong a case as possible and win a conviction with contextual advice and feedback from popular Law & Order cast members like Sam Waterston and Alana De La Garza. Players exhibit the evidence they have collected throughout every stage of the story during the game’s complete trial experience, and try to win a conviction to become the rookie Law & Order star.

Law & Order: Celebrity Betrayal also features four mini-games that directly affect the strength of a player’s case. At the game’s precinct location, players can help process evidence and obtain warrants by playing the Warrant Race game, and search for rumors playing the Coffee Run game. While in court, players can try their luck at Case Overload or Takeout Dash.

Law & Order: Celebrity Betrayal will be available for a one-time download charge of $6.99 or $2.99 monthly subscription fee on most major U.S. carriers.

“NBC excels at creating seamless digital experiences for all of its brands,” said Kristin McDonnell, CEO of LimeLife, Inc. “We are pleased to support NBC’s cross-media integration strategy, delivering the ‘Law & Order’ brand experience to show fans and crime buffs alike on their mobile phones.”

RealNetworks Announces the Worldwide Launch of 'South Park' 'Imaginationland' Mobile Game

2008-04-20T09:47:00.000-07:00

COMEDY CENTRAL Mobile, a division of MTVN Entertainment Group, and RealArcade Mobile, a division of digital entertainment services company RealNetworks Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK), announced today the launch of the new "South Park" "Imaginationland" mobile game. Based on COMEDY CENTRAL's hugely popular "South Park" "Imaginationland" trilogy, in which the doors of the world's imagination are thrown wide open and the boys of South Park are transported to a magical realm in their greatest odyssey ever. The mobile game will be available cross carrier and on a variety of handsets including the iPhone, and various Windows Mobile and Blackberry mobile devices. COMEDY CENTRAL Mobile and RealArcade Mobile plan to release the "South Park" "Imaginationland" game worldwide in June.

The player's mission in the "South Park" "Imaginationland" mobile game is to take on Butters' massive job to rescue the world in three arenas (Happy Imaginationland, Evil Imaginationland and The Battle for Imaginationland). The quest begins with the Mayor teaching the player how to bounce high by using his imagination. The player must utilize his bouncing skills to collect items and accomplish missions inside an allotted time limit. As the player accomplishes more missions, Butters gains extra imagination power to restore Imaginationland from the grasp of evil. "South Park" "Imaginationland" mobile game has more than 60 mind-blowing levels.

This is the second "South Park" mobile game made in cooperation with RealArcade Mobile, which publishes casual game hits from the PC onto mobile handsets and portable devices. RealArcade Mobile has created more than 40 mobile games supporting more than 800 handsets for wireless carriers around the world.

Here They Come - the iPhone Killers

2008-04-20T09:42:00.000-07:00

It's been nearly a a year since the iPhone was first released. No one knew exactly what the device would be like, or do, or how it would change the mobile phone landscape.

At the end of 2007, approximately 4 million iPhones had been sold, mostly in the US. That represents somewhere in the neighborhood of 1% of the total US subscribers carrying an iPhone.

At Movaya, we love the iPhone. Our COO, John, owns one and loves it. More importantly, we love the data that has been released about iPhone users, which we have reported on previously;

During his keynote appearance at the Mobile World Congress, AT&T Mobility president and CEO Ralph de la Vega called Apple's iPhone "a game-changer," noting that since AT&T exclusively launched the device in mid-2007, mobile data consumption has grown dramatically. According to de la Vega, 95% of iPhone owners regularly surf the web, even though 30% had never done so prior to iPhone ownership.

Well, now it is time to see how the other handset makers (Motorola, Samsung, LG) and wireless carriers (T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon) will respond to the iPhone craze. Clearly, the form factor is a hit with consumers, based on all the impressive data.

This week at CTIA, Sprint and Samsung announced the first iPhone like device - The Samsung Instinct.

The Samsung Instinct will be available in June for a yet undetermined price. Executives hinted that the price would be substantially lower than the $399 for the cheapest iPhone. Like the iPhone, the Instinct lacks a keypad and has just a few buttons. Most of the functions are accessed by touching the screen.

The Instinct will have a few features the iPhone lacks. For one, it will be the first consumer phone in the U.S. to use EV-DO Rev. A, the fastest cellular broadband technology available on the Sprint and Verizon Wireless networks.

AT&T Inc. has phones that use a competing technology with equivalent speeds, but the iPhone is not one of them: It runs on a comparatively slow network, supplemented by Wi-Fi access.

The Instinct also contains a Global Positioning System chip, for location applications. The iPhone lacks one, but it can use cellular and Wi-Fi signals to determine an approximate position.

The Instinct certainly won't be the last iPhone killer - it's going to be fun to watch these devices hit the market and watch as the other 99% of cell phone subscribers in the US get hooked on the mobile web.

Samsung P310 Ultra-Thin 'Credit Card' Phone.

2008-03-22T04:59:00.000-07:00

Samsung P310 Ultra-Thin 'Credit Card' Phone.

Samsung Electronics launched the SGH-P310 following the global success of the SGH-P300 'Card Phone.'

The SGH-P310 has a newly designed exterior and revamped features to take the throne as the 'Card Phone II.' Designers & engineers managed to trim the Card Phone II to just 8.5 mm in thickness !